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Scientific Name: Family Cichlidae

Type: Freshwater

Size: Varies by species, average 6" (15cm), up to 16" (40cm)

Tank Size Needed (Minimum): Varies by species. 50-100 gallons (190-378L)

Water pH: Varies by species. Typical African: 7.5 to 8.5, typical South American: 6.0 to 7.5

Water Hardness: Varies by species. Typical African: medium hard to hard (10-20 dH), typical South American: soft to medium hard (4-12 dH)

Temperature: Varies by species. Typical African: 72-82°F (22-28°C), typical South American: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

Origin: Africa, South America

Social: Generally does best as the only cichlid, though some species do well with another of their own kind. May get along with other similar size species, though should typically be kept in a species tank or aquarium for aggressive fish.

Life span: Varies by species, 10+ years

Diet: Varies by species, omnivore or carnivore. May feed live or frozen food (bloodworms, brine shrimp, plankton, small fish, tubifex worms), supplemented with flake or pellet food.

Difficulty Rating: Intermediate to advanced

Comments: Cichlid is a name encompassing more than 1,200 species from South America and Africa. While that is a huge variety of fish, there are some generalities that fit nearly every cichlid:

• Aggressiveness
• Strong personalities that make them more pet-like than other fish
• Intelligence
• Devoted parents when hatching eggs
• Require hiding places such as rocks and flower pots, and sandy bottoms for digging

Many cichlid species get very large, which means a lot of people who buy them as juveniles end up returning them when they outgrow their aquariums. Rocks and driftwood are good aquarium furnishings for cichlids, though including plants depends on the species—many are diggers who will destroy plants. Most cichlids prefer swimming in the lower levels of the aquarium and like low lighting conditions.

There are cichlids that stay small. Dwarf Cichlid is a name for over fifty species of fish up to 4" (10cm) long from South America. These are less aggressive than other cichlids but will still go after smaller fish to protect their territory. Because of their size, they can be easily frightened by larger fish, so should be housed with species similar in size, such as Barbs, Gouramis, and Loaches.